ALLEGED SEDITIOUS STRIKE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 November 1918, Page 2

ALLEGED SEDITIOUS STRIKE

'CHARGE DISMISSED By Telegraph.—Press Association. Oamara, Nov. 6. Mr Bartholomew, SAL, in giving judgment in the case brought by the Labor Department against Wm. Olds and others, watersiders at Oamaru, charged with seditious strike in refusing to continue the unloading of coal on the Kittawa on 26th July, after ten pjn.. held that sufficient notice of intention to work special overtime, that is for 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., as laid down in agreement had not been given by the employers to the Union. Notice to individuals of the Union was insufficient. Notice must be given by posting the names on the notice board, with the hours to be worked within the time as specified in the agreement. Tho notice was not so given and there had been no breach of the award.

Turning to fhe question raised by prosecution that a breach of tsie award was not necessary to constitute a breach of the War Regulations, he decided, that where the regulations conflicted with the agreement, they could not apply. Upon the point of illegal combination, lie held that the men had merely acted in concert to uphold tho agreement, The cases against Olds were dismissed and thirty similar cases were adjourned for a week pending instructions from the Department.